Friday, June 5, 2026

What You Need to Know:

PM Netanyahu: Is the prime minister’s relationship with the US president unraveling? Not particularly known for his diplomatic speech, US President Trump verbally aired his frustration with PM Netanyahu over Israel’s continued fighting in Lebanon, which President Trump claims is harming US-led negotiations with Iran. While the US and Israel have a common goal of ensuring that Iran not get nuclear weapons, PM Netanyahu has a more immediate need to see Hezbollah disarmed and Israel’s northern communities secure. Although President Trump opposes Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, it is unlikely that PM Netanyahu will back down when Israel’s future security is at stake.

Foreign Minister Sa’ar: Nine months ago, Fiji, a country made up of more than 300 islands in the South Pacific, became the 7th nation to open an embassy in Jerusalem. This week, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar was in Fiji to open a new Israeli embassy—the fourth one in 16 months. The embassy in Fiji will serve as a regional hub for Israeli relations in the region. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka gave a solid statement in support of Israel’s sovereignty and its “right to protect its citizens from terrorism and threats to its very existence.” 

Knesset: The bill to dissolve the Knesset (Parliament) passed its first reading on June 2, with two more votes before it becomes official. Elections, currently set for October 27, 2026, would be moved up to sometime between September 8 and October 20. That date will be set before the bill is final.

Dig Deeper:

Trump Confirms He Called Netanyahu “** Crazy” but Says They Work Well Together 

FM Sa’ar Opens Israeli Embassy in Fiji, Hails Golden Era in Ties 

Bill to Dissolve the Knesset Passes First Reading

What You Need to Know:

Hezbollah/Lebanon: The fight against Hezbollah has become one of adaptation. No longer relying on direct face-to-face firefights, the terror group continues to improve its FPV (first-person view) explosive drones and has added thermal sensors that allow them to track IDF forces operating at night. For its part, the IDF has “sharply reduced its use of heavy engineering equipment … which had become easy targets.” This past week, the IDF successfully captured the ancient Crusader castle on the Beaufort ridge, just a few kilometers from the Israeli border and which Hezbollah was using as a launch site for fiber-optic controlled drones. Security expert Cameron Chell warned that Hezbollah is likely to intensify its use of drones, making it imperative that a means to defuse these deadly weapons be developed quickly.

Syria: During the 20+ years of Syria’s civil war, Iran and its proxies operated freely in the border area surrounding Israel’s Golan Heights communities. ISIS was active at that time, and there were a lot of weapons being smuggled to Hezbollah in Lebanon. That changed on December 8, 2024, with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Outgoing commander Col. Benny Kata told Ynetnews that Israeli interests are being served by the new regime which “is currently preventing weapons from reaching Hezbollah and keeping ISIS operatives away from the fence,” but the IDF is not allowing itself to become complacent. Kata concluded by saying: “Every day is a new day. What was true yesterday is not relevant for tomorrow. We have learned that anything can happen, and everyone is stirring the Syrian pot.”

Dig Deeper:

IDF Forces Press Deeper into Lebanon  

Hezbollah’s Nighttime FPV Drones Raise Alarm in IDF   

Syria: A New Reality for the IDF  

What You Need to Know:

Israel is a small country in size, and it’s also very close-knit. Here, if you don’t personally know a soldier who was killed, the chances are very high that you know someone who did. Each death is deeply mourned, not only by their immediate families but by the nation as a whole. Two soldiers gave their lives in the last week in defense of their families and their country.

Capt. Dr. Ori Silvester, battalion physician in the Givati Brigade, was killed by an explosive FPV drone in southern Lebanon this week. He was 30 years old and leaves his widow Shahar with whom he completed his internship at Carmel Medical Center. One colleague said, “His compassionate approach toward patients and their families, and his role within the department team, reflected a wonderful physician who loved people and loved life.”

Just 21 years old, Staff Sgt. Michael Tyukin was killed in an explosive drone attack on May 29. Tyukin came to Israel six years ago with his mother and grandfather and did not have a large extended family in Israel. Members of his unit called on the public to attend his funeral in Ashdod to honor a hero of Israel. One of his friends in the unit described him: “There were always smiles around him, laughter, a good atmosphere. He was a man—he did not complain, he was full of empathy, he had a quiet toughness. He never complained about anything and did what had to be done. He had no fear. He was an honest guy.”

Dig Deeper:

He Completed His Internship, then Was Killed in a Drone Attack

A Hero of Israel: Comrades Call on Public to Attend His Funeral  

170 Added to the List of Fallen Soldiers in the Past Year  

What You Need to Know:

Israelis are a delightful mosaic of customs and cultures from around the world after returning from 2,000 years of exile. Although there have been years when the number of immigrants spiked, the newly established state more than doubled its population between 1948 and 1950 with refugees driven from Arab nations.

The account of the Jews who returned from Iraq is a fascinating one. Tracing their ancestry to the Babylonian exile, they were one of the “oldest and most significant Jewish communities in the Diaspora.” Things were good for the Iraqi Jews when the constitutional monarchy was established in 1920, and they occupied positions of importance. However, Nazi propaganda entered the country in the 1930s, and within a period of 10 years, Jews were no longer safe in their homes. During the festival of Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) in 1941, the Farhud (Arabic for “violent dispossession”) pogrom erupted in Baghdad. For two days, “Jewish homes and businesses were looted, synagogues were desecrated, women were raped, and Jews were beaten, wounded and 179 were murdered.” According to Prof. Emerita Esther Meir-Glitzenstein, “Similar outbreaks of anti-Jewish violence would follow elsewhere in the Arab world, including Libya, Aden, Egypt and Syria,” so when Israel was born again in 1948, tens of thousands of Jewish residents fled countries where they had lived for generations.

Though the numbers of Jews making aliyah (immigrating to Israel) in the latter years seems small in comparison to the numbers who came from 1948–1951, it is good to remember that Israel is a diverse nation united through their common ancestry.

Dig Deeper:

Iraqi Jewish Survivors Mark 85 Years since the Farhud Pogrom   

Meet the “Soon-to-Be” Israelis 

What You Need to Know:

Who will become the 10th UN Secretary General when António Guterres leaves office on December 31, 2026? Hillel Neuer recently issued a strong warning against front-runner Michelle Bachelet. During her four years as the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Bachelet failed to speak out against “some of the world’s most powerful and repressive regimes.” Perhaps more concerning was Bachelet’s obsession with Israel. In addition to systematically applying a “double-standard against the Jewish state, she never issued a single condemnation of violent antisemitic acts that took place worldwide.” The Secretary-General is the chief administrative officer and top diplomat for the UN, which includes bringing issues that threaten international peace to the Security Council and acting as a mediator and advocate on global crises. In Neuer’s words: “The world deserves better. So does the UN.”

Although the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants charging PM Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, there was no charge of genocide. Recently, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was asked why he hadn’t included genocide. Khan replied: “It would be a reckless prosecutor to move simply because of clamor. You move based on evidence.” When pressed, Khan said there had been no such evidence in Gaza. Alice Wairimu Nderitu, in her role as UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, agreed that Israel’s operations in Gaza did not meet the definition of genocide. For years, pro-Palestinian demonstrators as well as influencers on social media have irresponsibly accused Israel of genocide when the truth is vastly different.

Dig Deeper:

The UN Can’t Afford another Appeaser as Secretary-General  

“We are done with this secretary-general” UN Ambassador Danon Says  

ICC Prosecutor Undercuts Gaza Genocide Narrative

What You Need to Know:

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the formation of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, a federal advisory council to combat antisemitism. Carney said: “The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it’s severe and it demands a targeted response. Canada’s civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians.” The newly formed council has been directed “to reassess the nature, scale and drivers of antisemitism in Canada, improve data collection on hate incidents and evaluate the effectiveness of investments in education, prevention and community safety.” Representatives of Canada’s Jewish community welcomed his announcement.

The Israel Allies Foundation recently held a two-day conference for European lawmakers from 15 countries as well as Jewish and Christian representatives. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli told the participants, “In too many Western European countries, we are seeing outrageous policies and dangerously weak leadership in the face of growing antisemitism.” Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and president of the Israel Allies Foundation, explained that the conference’s purpose was to “reinforce the bonds of faith-based diplomacy and build a strong alliance of parliamentarians who recognize that supporting the State of Israel is inseparable from the fight against antisemitism in all its forms.”

On May 31, more than 50,000 people marched in New York City’s annual Israel Day Parade. For the first time in 61 years, the sitting Mayor of New York City was not among them. Mayor Mamdani claimed he was honoring a campaign pledge, but in reality, he was refusing to acknowledge that his Jewish constituents are important and that their well-being is his responsibility. His absence spoke volumes.

Dig Deeper:

PM Carney: Canada Failing Jews as Antisemitism Increases  

Diaspora Affairs Minister Slams Western European Leadership on Antisemitism

What You Need to Know:

This week, Israeli nonprofit Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) brought 10 children from Malawi for life-saving cardiac treatment at Sylvan Adams Children’s Hospital in Holon. They suffer from various potentially deadly conditions, such as congenital heart defects or rheumatic heart disease, and range from 2 to 19 years of age. The work of SACH is especially vital in countries like Malawi, which consistently ranks in the top ten poorest nations in the world. Since its founding in 1995, SACH has “treated more than 8,000 children from 75 countries, regardless of nationality, religion or financial background … [and] trained hundreds of doctors and medical professionals worldwide.”  

For decades, Colombia was a staunch supporter of Israel, but after October 7, current President Gustavo Petro, the first leftist to hold that position, cut diplomatic ties, accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and joined South Africa’s case in the International Court of Justice. However, Colombia may be returning to a position of support for Israel. Although the elections held on May 31 did not result in either presidential candidate crossing the 50% threshold, pro-Israel candidate Abelardo de la Espriella received 43.7% of the votes, while the leftist candidate received 40.9%. With the pledge of support from conservative candidate Paloma Valencia, who received 7% of the votes, it appears very likely that de la Espriella will be Colombia’s next president.

Dig Deeper:

Malawian Children Arrive in Israel for Life-saving Heart Treatment  

Colombia's Pro-Israel Firebrand Closes in on Power